The Blame Game

Three

I stayed still, feeling a tear slip down my face and watching it fall onto one of the handcuffs bounding my wrists. They felt painfully tight. They were cold. I was beginning to lose feeling in my wrists.

My mind was spinning. I didn't understand how this was happening. What had I done to deserve this?

Am I being set up? I asked myself. It was possible. But who would've known about all those things? No one knew what I said or did, except for...

Cam.

The idea clicked in my mind. It was more than possible. Actually, it was probable. He was the last person she was seen with. He was upset that I caught him cheating. Maybe he was angry. Maybe he was frustrated and took it out on her. I knew Cam was more than capable of murder. He'd murdered people before. It was part of his job as a member of his gang. That was why he looked so guilty and wouldn't say anything when I was arrested. He knew. He had planned for this to happen.

Then, I realized the flaw in my judgement: he had a witness that said he never left the house.

Unless he did it and had someone else do the dirty work...or had Zayn lie for him! Of course! Zayn lives next door! He was part of Cam's gang! He'd lie for Cam anyday!

I loved Cam, but this was just insane. All signs pointed to him. He was trying to get me to cover for him. He knew I would. He knew how much I love him. He knew that I was smart enough to eventually figure out what was going on. He knew that I wouldn't want to tell the what he did. He knew that they wouldn't believe me anyway. He knew that he was easy to blame, but he had people backing him up, and I didn't. He knew how guilty I looked.

That clever bastard.

I had covered for Cam before when he was arrested so that he would be off the hook. That was how much I cared about him. I went along with lies he told authority, and they believed me. I had a good reputation and a squeaky-clean record. Cam trusted me to take the blame for what he did. I was a piece in his game, but I didn't want to be anymore. He wasn't good for me. He was ruining my life. Fuck love. He didn't love me.

He was just using me.

***********************

About an hour later, the detectives re-entered the room along with another man. They said he was my lawyer.

"I don't need a lawyer," I cried. "I'm innocent!"

"Miss Mattlyn, I need you to calm down," the female detective spoke. I groaned.

The lawyer walked over to me. "Hi, Isabella. I'm Reynold Chambers." He stuck out his hand and stood across from me. I was sitting at a table.

I shook his hand. "Call me Bella," I quietly responded.

"Okay. We'll be back in forty-five minutes." With that, the detectives left.

Mr. Chambers got started right away. He opened his brief case, taking out folders and documents. "So... An innocent teenage girl on trial for murder, eh?"

I blew out my cheeks. Looking back at him, I asked, "You do believe I'm innocent, don't you?"

He sighed and looked at me. "I want you to tell me your side of the story. And you have to be completely honest with me. Even if you're guilty, it's still my job to defend you," he chuckled.

"I will tell you everything," I promised.

I told him my side of the story. He looked at me, surprised, afterwards.

"So...you decided to go outside in dark clothes all night?" he inquired when I was finished.

I sighed. "Mr. Chambers, I know it sounds insane, but I'm telling you the truth. I swear to you." I looked him in the eyes. "You have to believe me."